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Social Work in China: FAQ
China is a country of extreme proportions and contrasts. The most northern town of Mohe lies in line with Berlin and the tropical island of Hainan is situated on the same degree of latitude as the south Sahara. Between these extremes are gigantic cities, monuments to imperial dynasties, fertile lowlands, the Tibetan highlands, Mongolian grass steppes and vast deserts.
Discover China on a boat trip down the Yangtze, the third largest river in the world; travel along the millennium-old Silk Road or hike along the Great Wall, one of the largest construction made by man.
What is the health and safety situation in China?
What do I need to consider beforehand?
What prerequisites must I fulfil in order to participate in this programme?
How good must my knowledge of the English language be?
Is there an age limit for this programme?
Will I earn money during the project work?
Can I be placed with a friend / boyfriend / girlfriend?
How long does the programme last and can I extend it?
When can I start the programme?
Do I have to apply for a Visa before departure?
Which additional costs will I have to pay?
Do I have a local contact partner?
What is the health and safety situation in China?
China is a country where the health risks are far higher than in Europe. In some parts of China, there is a risk e.g. of malaria. Therefore, please take advice from a doctor specialising in the Tropics or an advisory travel medicine facility as to necessary vaccinations and health precautions – and with plenty of time as the vaccinations last over several weeks. Get your vaccination on time - it needs time to give immunity. The following links provide useful, general medical travel information: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.masta-travel-health.com.
China is suitable as a country for travelling if you stick to several rules. You can inform yourselves on the following web page as to which regions pose no threats to tourists and which you should avoid: www.fco.gov.uk/travel
What do I need to consider beforehand?
Please be aware that you will be plunging into another world with this programme. You will be getting to know the fundamentals of Asia and China and will be living in relatively basic conditions. A high level of adaptability and flexibility will be demanded from you. You will have very little privacy.
For some volunteers, the initial period of the stay is quite a strain. Therefore, please inform yourself exceedingly well about the country and life in Asia and China.
What prerequisites must I fulfil in order to participate in this programme?
Those taking part in the China programme must be at least 18 years old and have good knowledge of the English language. As you will be entering a completely new cultural region, adaptability, self-sufficiency and travel experience are essential.
The Asian culture is completely different from the European one and we expect that our participants meet the Chinese people open-mindedly and respectfully, without judging their lifestyle too prematurely!
The best way to prepare yourself for China is to find out as much as you can about the country before your departure.
How good must my knowledge of the English language be?
Even if you are no native speaker, it is not necessary for you to have studied English or that you are studying to become a teacher. However, you need good to very good knowledge of English for this work.
Apart from this, you should consider before departure how you could prepare for lessons and which teaching material you could use. For example, you could use English songs or newspaper articles. There are many ways in which the English language can be taught. You should not choose this programme in order to improve your own knowledge of the English language.
Is there an age limit for this programme?
No, there is no age limit for this programme. Most participants are however between 18 and 30 years old.
Older participants are welcome to participate in the programme, but you should be aware that you are unlikely to meet people of your age on location.
Where will I be living?
During the orientation days in Shanghai, you will be accommodated in an apartment owned by our partner organisation. If you are placed in a school in the city centre, you will continue to stay in accommodation belonging to the partner organisation during the project work.
If you are allocated to a project further away from Shanghai or one of the Shanghai islands, you will be living in accommodation reserved for teachers at the school in which you will be working.
Please expect far more basic living conditions than those you are used to. You will normally share a room with further volunteers. Please note that the accommodation is very simple. Water failures and power outs are not unusual.
Which projects can I work in?
The focus of this programme is to teach English at Chinese schools. There are several schools which are glad to receive volunteers who can teach German or French, too. In Shanghai, there is also a kindergarten and a centre for children with infantile paralysis, in which volunteers can participate. The projects are located in Shanghai in the city centre, on the islands off Shanghai and in the Si Chuan province, approximately a three hour flight away from Shanghai.
You can state which field you would like to work in most. Our local partner organisation will try to fulfil your requests if possible. However, as placement of the volunteers always depends on the current conditions within the projects, we cannot guarantee you a certain position. We therefore stipulate that our participants must be flexible and open enough to work in all the available projects.
The Chinese mentality plays a large role in familiarisation with the new job and collaboration, meaning that it is very important to create your own position and to discuss your ideas and expectations with the teachers/project supervisors.
In Asia, you need to be very flexible – this is also true for the working assignments in the projects. You have to show a lot of initiative and get on with your work! It could be that you will be working together with other foreigners in one project – but it could also be that you are the only helper in each facility.
Please observe that the projects are often not very well organised and that you will not always be given fixed assignments. It is very important that you are creative, adaptable, flexible and self-sufficient, in order to make good use of your time in the projects.
Will I earn money during the project work?
No, this is volunteer work! This means that with your work you are supporting people who require help. You help organisations, that have barely enough money to cover their own expenses. Therefore, please do not expect financial payment for your work; but view the project as a great chance to gain valuable life experiences.
Can I be placed with a friend / boyfriend / girlfriend?
Yes, you can state a travel partner when applying and generally it will be possible to place you in the same project or host family. We cannot guarantee this 100%.
How long does the programme last and can I extend it?
The programme lasts 5, 9 or 13 weeks. Please state how long you wish to participate in the programme for when applying.
When can I start the programme?
In 2008, the programme starts on the following dates:
- 1st September
- 15th September
- 6th October
- 20th October
- 3rd November
- 17th November
- 1st December
The programme always begins on a Monday and you should arrive on that Monday. In July and August, China has school holidays and most of the schools are closed during this time. During the holidays, our partner organisation runs camps in which volunteers give lessons.
Do I have to apply for a Visa before departure?
Yes, you must certainly apply for a Visa for China before departure. You will receive information on this from TravelWorks after your application.
Please inform yourself in advance on updated Visa terms and conditions at www.travcour.com.
Which additional costs will I have to pay?
Of course, the final costs depend a great deal on yourself. As well as programme costs, you should reckon with the following expenses:
- Travel costs: journey to and from China (depending on travel times, airline, etc.)
- Travel insurance: e.g. from 37 £ (74 US$ or 49 €) per month (you can take out travel insurance with TravelWorks)
- Any necessary vaccinations
- Personal expenses (travel, souvenirs, personal expenses etc)
- Meals (during the orientation days and, during the volunteer work, at the weekends)
- Visa fee
Do I have a local contact partner?
Yes, our partner organisation is happy to help you with questions and queries. At the beginning of your trip, you will be collected from airport in Shanghai, where the orientation event will take place.
After this, you can ring the office or speak personally with the employees if something is unclear. If you become ill or your Visa has to be extended, they will be happy to help and provide you with support.
What are my next steps?
If you go for this programme, simply fill out the online or PDF booking form. Please notice that online booking is only available with credit card payment. If you choose the PDF booking form, please print, fill in, sign and either post or fax it to us. As soon as we receive your application, we will process your booking and, if necessary, get back to you for additional information. At this point your application is legally binding. You will also receive further information and diverse application forms, which need to be filled in and sent back to us.
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